Stormy B attracts $67,000 bid

Rush Bay is a half-brother to Thursday’s topper at Keeneland (Alex Evers/Horsephotos.com) STORMY B (Cherokee Run), a winning half-sister to Canadian Grade 2 hero Rush Bay (Cozzene), sold for the top price of $67,000 at Thursday’s 10th session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in Lexington, Kentucky. Audrey/Emily purchased the four-year-old from the consignment of Elm Tree Farm (Mr. and Mrs. Jody Huckabay), agent. Stormy B, who compiled a mark of 6-1-1-2 with $24,140 in earnings, is carrying her first foal on a February 12 cover to Tiz Wonderful. She toured the ring as Hip No. 3431. Her half-brother, Rush Bay, placed in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) on the dirt as a juvenile but developed into a classy turf performer. Successful in the Nijinsky S. (Can-G2), Jefferson Cup S. (G3) and Opening Verse H., he was also fourth in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Churchill Downs. Stormy B is out of the winning Deputy Minister mare Seoul, who is herself a half-sister to turf stalwarts Chorwon (Cozzene) and Yukon Robbery (Yukon). Chorwon boasts seven stakes victories, including the Kentucky Cup Turf H. (G3) and three straight runnings of the Louisville H., while Yukon Robbery claims three straight editions of the Fair Grounds H. among his five stakes tallies. This is also the family of Classic Elegance (Carson City), heroine of the 2004 Schuylerville S. (G2) and Debutante S. (G3).

A weanling colt from the first crop of Grade 1 winner Political Force ranked
as the session’s second-best seller, going to Baccari Bloodstock for $57,000.
Cataloged as Hip 3385, the February 13 foal was consigned by Bluegrass
Thoroughbred Services Inc. (J. Stuart), agent.

The Kentucky-bred gray is the third registered foal from the winning Royal
Teresa (Mountain Cat), whose only foal to race is the thrice-winning juvenile
Purse Luva (Pollard’s Vision). He hails from the family of Grade 1 victor and
millionaire Chief Honcho (Chief’s Crown), multiple Grade 2 scorer American
Chance (Cure the Blues), Japanese Grade 1 winner Gold Tiara (Seeking the Gold)
and Godolphin’s well-regarded juvenile Poet’s Voice (Dubawi), who garnered the
Champagne S. (Eng-G2). Among the leading lights further back in the family is
noted sire Exclusive Native (Raise a Native).

On Thursday, 239 horses were sold for $2,253,900, a decline of 12.7 percent
from the corresponding session in 2008, when $2,580,500 was realized by 178
head. The average plunged 34.9 percent, from $14,497 to $9,431, and the median
was halved, from $12,000 to $6,000.

With 10 of 13 sessions in the books, 2,261 horses have changed hands for
$155,950,000, down 11.3 percent from the gross of $175,875,300 posted by 1,999
horses by this point in last year’s sale. The average has dropped 21.6 percent,
from $87,982 to $68,974, and the median has fallen 28.9 percent, from $38,000 to $27,000.

The auction resumes Friday and runs through Sunday, with each day’s trade
kicking off at 10 a.m. (EST). For more information, as well as live video of the
sale, log onto keeneland.com.